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  • CDAO Melbourne Day Two

  • 08:00
    VIP Lunch_ Dinner-1

    Private Breakfast - Hosted by Quantexa

    Arrow
  • 09:00
    Ana Roy

    Welcome from Corinium and the Chairperson

    Ana Roy - Head of Merchandise Analytics - Kmart

    Arrow
  • 09:10
    Kate Lucas-2

    The Future of Healthcare is Data-Enabled

    Kate Lucas - Chief Analytics Officer - Department of Health

    Arrow
    • Transforming the data products journey with AI Agents
    • How AI Agents enable a new approach to data products engineering
    • Broader opportunities for AI Agents in technology
    • Positive disruption and its impact on data engineering across the industry
  • 09:35
    1105-25a CDAO Melbourne - Spekaer Headshots

    The AI Readiness Imperative: Getting Your Data House in Order

    Bharath Vasudevan - VP GTM Quest Software - Quest Software

    Arrow

    CDAOs and CIOs face increasing pressure to deliver secure, scalable, and AI-ready data environments. AI applications require a strategic overhaul of data management, governance, and infrastructure - but many initiatives stall due to fragmented or unstructured data.

    This session will explore how data leaders can establish trusted, high-quality data pipelines to support AI-driven initiatives. Learn how marketplaces and advanced data quality frameworks are helping organisations govern, scale, and future-proof AI programs while ensuring compliance and security.

    Bharath Vasudevan, VP GTM at Quest will highlight approaches on how to: 

    • Get your data house in order – building an enterprise-wide AI data strategy
    • Understand data movement and observability – strengthening governance, compliance and operational visibility
    • Scale AI Programs – leveraging classification, marketplaces, and augmented data quality for AI success

    Join this session for actionable insights and strategies to unlock the full potential of AI in your organisation while maintaining trust, compliance, and scalability.

  • 10:00
    Panel Discussion

    Keynote Panel: Conquering the New Data Landscape - Governance, AI, Culture, and Cost

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    • What is truly new to data & analytics today?
    • How do you envision and deliver robust governance frameworks for successful adoption of new data-driven technologies while ensuring ethical and responsible use of these technologies?
    • Upskilling employees so they are equipped with the skills to engage with the technology, while maintaining transparency and accountability through effective governance practices.
    • Examining the comprehensive costs of evolving data landscapes, including talent acquisition and retention, technology infrastructure, data quality and availability, and ethical considerations
    • Is new technology creating as many challenges as it’s solving?

    Moderator:

    Nader Chmait Head of Data & Analytics New Aim

    Panellists:

    Greg Turner GM Data & Analytics Resolution Life

    Rakesh Kalyankar Head of Data Services AustralianSuper

    Christian Biggs Director, Data Analytics and Transformation The University of Melbourne

    Benedict Chiu Director, Services Australian Research Data Commons 

  • 10:35

    NETWORKING BREAK

  • 11:10
    Swati Gupta Head of Data & Analytics Yarra Valley Water

    Building Trust in AI: Inside Yarra Valley Water’s Journey

    Swati Gupta - Head of Data & Analytics - Yarra Valley Water

    Arrow

    Adopting AI in large, complex organisations is never straightforward. In government, the challenge is even greater: risk appetite is naturally lower, accountability expectations are higher, and citizens’ expectations are shaped by their daily interactions with global AI leaders. They rightly expect their governments to be just as competent, responsible, and responsive. That raises questions many organisations are grappling with today:

    • How do you ensure AI improves both customer and employee experience?
    • How do you prevent different parts of the business from running in different directions?
    • How do you bring along the sceptics while supporting those ready to experiment?
    • And how do you manage the flood of models coming from individuals, business units, IT, and vendors?

    Yarra Valley Water set out to answer these questions by working with IM Systems (IMS), a consultancy specialising in data governance, architecture, and AI. The project involved engaging business stakeholders, establishing an AI Advisory Group, developing induction materials, and co-creating a draft AI Policy and Standard to provide guardrails for safe, trusted adoption.

    Speakers:

    Swati Gupta Head of Data & Analytics Yarra Valley Water

    Anshu Singh Data Governance Manager Yarra Valley Water

    George Bassili Managing Partner IMS 

  • 11:35
    Saurav Sachdev (1)

    Bridging Data Silos: Unlocking Value Through Secure Collaboration

    Saurav Sachdev - Head of Data - Coles

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  • 12:00
    Keynote

    Diving Deeper into Ethical Considerations in Data Democratisation

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    • Can you ensure that democratisation efforts do not compromise privacy or lead to biased outcomes?
    • Does AI facilitate or hinder data access and analysis?
    • Showcasing successful implementations of ethical data democratisation that highlight best practices and lessons learned
  • 12:25
    Panel Discussion

    Keynote Panel Discussion: Transforming Data Strategy: Unlocking Growth through Integration and Innovation

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    • Building a Strong Foundation: Establishing key pillars like data quality, governance, and interconnected ecosystems to craft scalable, high-impact data strategies
    • Addressing the complexities of fragmented, outdated systems while integrating diverse data sources to drive transparency and unlock new value
    • Exploring how generative AI and advanced analytics can enhance traditional approaches, delivering both operational efficiency and strategic growth opportunities

    Moderator: 

    Bismi Palatty Manager, Data Platforms and Integrations Alfred Health

    Speakers:

    Tracy Moore General Manager of AI & Data MYOB

    Xavier Varalda General Manager Data, Analytics & Data Governance Sigma Healthcare

    Sveta Freidman Global GM, Data & Analytics /VP of Data & Analytics Xero

    Raja Koushik Data Migration and Governance Manager Kinetic Group 

  • 13:00

    Lunch

  • 13:00
    VIP Lunch_ Dinner-1

    Private Data Leader’s Lunch - Hosted by Snowflake

    Arrow
  • 14:00
    Panel Discussion

    Panel Discussion: Uplifting Data Literacy and Embedding It into Everyday Processes

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    • What are the challenges you are facing with literacy today?
    • Strategy and road mapping for your organisation
    • What are your processes for keeping the organisation up-to-date?

    Moderator:
    Peta Stevenson Group Head of Data and Analytics Cbus Super Fund

    Speakers:

    Mark Gu Group Manager Advanced Analytics St John of God Health Care

    Nader Chmait Head of Data & Analytics New Aim

    Katie Bayley Head of Insights & Analytics City of Melbourne

    Melroy Vanlangenberg Head of Data Governance Australian Unity 

  • 14:35
    Dr M Maruf Hossain

    Transforming Business with Generative AI: Data-Driven Strategies for Success

    Dr M Maruf Hossain - 2024 Global Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics - Banking and Finance Sector

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    • Is Generative AI really revolutionising data and analytics, driving business innovation and value?
    • What are the key trends and forces shaping the integration of Generative AI into business processes
    • Learn practical strategies for adapting data practices to support effective AI system development
    • Discover actionable insights for redesigning business models and strategies to fully leverage AI capabilities
  • 15:00

    AFTERNOON TEA

  • 15:30
    Asel Mendis

    Product Association and Cross Shop Analysis for Multi-Site and Multi-Product Businesses

    Asel Mendis - Analytics Lead Property - Kmart

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    • What is cross shop?
    • Implementation and measuring cross shop
    • How they can be implemented in a physical retail format and online
    • Informative ways to measure performance for key stakeholders
    • Value to the business
  • 15:55
    Panel Discussion

    Closing Panel: Data 2025 - Bold Predictions, Big Bets & Unpopular Opinions

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    • What’s one “unsexy” data trend that you think will quietly dominate in 2025 - and no one is paying enough attention to yet?
    • If you had to kill one overused data buzzword or practice before the year ends, what would it be, and what should replace it?
    • If you were placing a bold bet on where data is headed in 2025 — technology, talent, AI, governance, anything — what would you bet on, and what do you think would make it succeed or flop?
    • What's your most unpopular opinion about where data, AI, or governance is headed — and why do you stand by it?

    Speakers:

    Ana Roy Head of Merchandise Analytics Kmart

    Raja Koushik Data Migration and Governance Manager Kinetic Group

    Navin Vishwanath Head of Data Management NAB 

     

  • 16:30

    Close of CDAO Melbourne 2025